Calgary Wins Bid for 2015 Canadian Open Volleyball Championships

10,000 athletes and 12,000 spectators expected to converge on Calgary in Volleyball Canada’s largest event.

Calgary, December 6, 2012 – Volleyball Canada has selected Calgary to host the 2015 Canadian Open Volleyball Championship through a competitive bid process. The event will be held in May 2015 in a combination of venues including the Olympic Oval and BMO Centre. The 2015 Canadian Open Volleyball Championship is expected to attract 10,000 athletes and 12,000 spectators, which is expected to projected in excess of 18,000 room nights for Calgary hotels.

“We hosted our first Canada West Open Championship event in Calgary more than 14 years ago and it has been a yearly success,” stated Volleyball Canada President Hugh Wong. “We’re now excited to bring our largest event combining all age categories to this great city. We are confident that the event will be an outstanding success given the extensive experience and knowledge among our volunteer base here in Calgary and we believe that we have great support from Tourism Calgary and its partners.”

“Attracting this event to Calgary is a testament to our city’s strategic approach to event bidding, our history of hosting world-class events and our tremendous sporting culture and local champions,” said Doug Mitchell, Chair of the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority. “The benefits that accompany events like the 2015 Canadian Open Volleyball Championship are far reaching and include economic, tourism, and promotional opportunities, as well as inspiring our youth to live healthy, active lifestyles.”

A pre-event economic impact analysis conducted by Tourism Calgary predicts that the event will produce a total gross economic impact or industry output estimated at $16.2 million for greater Calgary, or $23.2 million within the province of Alberta. The event is forecast to support $3 million in tax revenue includes federal tax revenues of $1,600,000, provincial tax revenue of $900,000 and municipal tax revenues of $500,000.

“Events like the 2015 Canadian Open Volleyball Championship have a tremendous impact on our city’s $1.4 billion visitor economy,” said Randy Williams, Tourism Calgary President and CEO. “Not only will the event’s 22,000 participants and spectators stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop in our stores, but they will experience a Calgary that will surprise and excite them and, ideally, entice them to visit us again.”

“The Calgary Hotel Association is proud to collaborate with Tourism Calgary and the Calgary Sport Tourism Authority in attracting another world-class event to our city,” said Leanne Shaw-Brotherston, Calgary Hotel Association Chairman of the Board. “The Canadian Open Volleyball Championship will bring tremendous lift to our hotels and benefit the entire local economy.”

“This is an opportunity to showcase Alberta as a first-rate sporting destination,” said Quincy Smith, Chair of Travel Alberta. “We have the infrastructure to support major sporting events and this is a great occasion to build on our existing legacy.”